Florida Keys, Florida, US See www.scas.org/wsp.html

See the milky way and galaxies with the unaided eye. Point your telescope to find the many dim deep space objects that sprinkle the sky. Away from Toronto's light polution, there is so much to see. We observe from the Long Sault Conservation area, an hour outside of Toronto. We meet around dusk once a month in the parking lot for views only seen in dark sky conditions. We hold this event on the first clear night of our week-long window, so the date and time are determined closer to.

We will be observing this Saturday morning if skies are clear.Join us at the Ontario Science Centre for our monthly Solar Observing on the TelusScape observing pad. This is the area in front of the Science Centre's entrance. We use specialized telescopes that are safe to aim at the Sun. Check our home page on the Friday prior for go/no-go calls as this event is weather dependent.

In a world of ever larger and more expensive telescopes, amateur astronomers often pass over the wonder above them that can only be seen with the most complex yet readily available optical instrument of them all – the unaided eye. From comets to crepuscular rays and from the northern lights to noctilucent clouds, there is an entire universe waiting, both literally and figuratively before your eyes.

Eric Choi, Vice President, Responsive Space at Canadensys Aerospace Corporation

New Observers to Visual Astronomy (NOVA) is an 8-week introductory course that is designed to show the novice astronomer the wonders of the night sky and how to enjoy them. No experience or telescope needed. (Class is full).

Measuring light pollution of your sky, see www.globeatnight.org

In 1889 Van Gogh, contemplating the night sky, created one of the most famous images conveying humanity’s captivation with the cosmos. Over a century later, as quantum theories brush alluringly close to unravelling the secrets of the Universe, are we any further in understanding our existence? Join Spectrum as they use music to explore awe-inspiring questions with a hand-picked ensemble including celebrated Trumpeters Lina Allemano and Jim Lewis, enveloped by projections and immersive staging.

Bring along your best tips for sharing and show and tell for how to make an evening under the stars more enjoyable.

Join us at the Ontario Science Centre for our monthly Solar Observing on the TelusScape observing pad. This is the area in front of the Science Centre's entrance. We use specialized telescopes that are safe to aim at the Sun. Check our home page on the Friday prior for go/no-go calls as this event is weather dependent.

Speaker: Miranda Jarvis From a dark enough place, the Milky Way can be seen as a bright swath of stars across the sky. It is a galaxy composed of billions of stars, amongst which our sun is just one. What shape is the Milky Way? What is it made of? How does it behave? And how did we learn all of this? Miranda Jarvis will provide answers to all of these questions and more as we tour our galaxy and some of the exciting things in it.

Kendrick Smith, Cosmologist, Perimeter Institute Revolutionary progress has been achieved in the science of cosmology over the past 30 years. Powerful experiments, made possible by new technologies, have transformed our understanding of the universe. We have unveiled the laws of physics that govern time and space on the grandest scales, from the big bang to present day.